Nathan Crawford and Zac Watson headline MX1, with Byron Dennis and Dylan Walsh set for a strong MX2 campaign as the eight-round season begins March 21–22
KTM Racing Team will arrive with a talented four-rider lineup at Wonthaggi’s opening round of the 2026 Australian ProMX Championship on March 21-22, where Nathan Crawford and Zac Watson will lead the new-look team’s MX1 charge, alongside MX2 teammates Byron Dennis and Dylan Walsh.
The anticipated new season is dropping the gates at the picturesque Wonthaggi venue in the south-east of Victoria, providing a Bass Coast backdrop to commence the eight-round national motocross championship across a two-day format.
After achieving a career-high runner-up result in the premier class last season, Queenslander Nathan Crawford has completed a solid pre-season. The number three is now putting the final touches on his preparation aboard the KTM 450 SX-F, motivated to challenge for the MX1 title in 2026.
The 28-year-old delivered a standout motocross campaign in 2025, recording seven podium finishes from eight appearances, and this year marks Crawford’s fifth-consecutive term with the KTM Racing Team.
Nathan Crawford: “We’re closing in on the start of a new season with the team and it feels like business as usual. Entering my fifth year with the KTM Racing Team, we’ve got a solid foundation to build from, and are aiming to take further steps forward so we can fight for the MX1 championship in 2026. That is the goal, to be in the race for the title throughout 2026, and we’re excited to get to Round 1 at Wonthaggi.”
Joining Crawford onboard the KTM 450 SX-F is 2025 revelation Zac Watson, who confirmed his status as an MX1 front-runner last year with P5 in the final standings. Watson and the KTM Racing Team have since focused on refining his racecraft ahead of the 2026 campaign, building upon his national experience at only 21 years of age.
Zac Watson: “The KTM Racing Team has been unreal. They’ve gone to all ends to help me out and get me comfortable, so I feel like we are in a pretty solid place. We’ve just been putting in a lot of time ahead of Round 1 and hopefully we come out swinging at Wonthaggi. I’m looking forward to seeing what the opener brings this year, as well as the entire 2026 championship.”
Byron Dennis and Dylan Walsh bring a blend of youth and experience to the KTM Racing Team MX2 roster, both equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F and are determined to consistently make an impact as the season progresses.
For 19-year-old Dennis – who was ultra-consistent on his way to fifth in points last year – it’s a case of building on strong foundations set in the pre-season after an exceptional end to 2025, while for Walsh, at 28 years of age he is in a position to capitalise on immense international experience gained throughout his career.
Byron Dennis: “I’m feeling good coming into 2026. We had a really strong finish to supercross last year with a podium in Adelaide, and went into the off-season healthy, which was nice. That’s something that’s hurt me in the past – going into the break injured and having to rebuild from basically zero during pre-season. This time, I was able to take some time off, enjoy it, and then get back to work with a solid base. We’ll keep putting in the work and come out swinging with the KTM Racing Team at Wonthaggi!”
Dylan Walsh: “I’m really looking forward to the new season coming up! So far, we’ve had a really good pre-season and have the KTM 250 SX-F in a good spot, so now I’m just hanging out for that first gate drop together with the team outdoors.”
In addition, KTM Racing Team will continue to support Jackson Fuller in the MX3 category of the ProMX Championship, also equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F. He claimed sixth in the series last year and is aiming to build upon that form this season.
Kyle Blunden, KTM Group Australia Motorsport Manager: “The off‑season has been really positive and there’s a genuine buzz within the KTM Racing Team. Nathan has shown tremendous consistency over recent ProMX seasons, and we all saw last year that he has the speed to run at the front of the MX1 field. Zac has settled into the program seamlessly and brings an energy that’s exciting to be around. He made big strides in 2025, and we’re excited to see him take another step as we roll into 2026. In MX2, both Byron and Dylan have had strong off‑seasons. Byron continues to develop quickly and brings a level of determination that’s impressive for such a young rider. Dylan adds valuable experience and raw speed to the class, and with a full campaign ahead of him, we expect him to build serious momentum as the season unfolds. We also have an incredibly fast and talented rider in Jackson returning in MX3. Jackson’s progression and rate of learning as he’s transitioned into the senior ranks have been impressive to say the least. Across the board, the team has worked incredibly hard to ensure we’re READY TO RACE the moment we hit the sand in Wonthaggi. It’s a long season, but we’ll take it race by race and make sure we’re in the fight every weekend.”
